Did not mean any disrespect to justice Hegde: Digvijay

In a sudden move late today evening, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh expressed regret over his remarks about retired Supreme Court judge N Santosh Hegde, a member of the Lokpal bill drafting committee.

In a sudden move late on Thursday evening, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Digvijay Singh expressed regret over his remarks about retired Supreme Court judge N Santosh Hegde, a member of the Lokpal bill drafting committee.

Referring to his press conference earlier in the day when he nearly ran down Hegde, the Congress leader told mediapersons here in the evening: "I never meant any disrespect to Justice Hegde, who I hold in very high esteem."

Singh sought to clarify: "I was only trying to point out that Lokpal bill alone will not eradicate corruption from this country; in that context, while citing the example of Karnataka, I had said that even though we all acknowledge that the Karnataka Lok Ayukta Act was the most effective in the country and the office was held by a powerful judge like justice Hegde, still there was unabated corruption in the state run by Yeddyurappa and the Reddys."

He was referring to the allegations of land scam against chief minister BS Yeddyurappa and of illegal mining against the powerful Reddy brothers of Bellary, who are ministers.